Cranking Problems with YM240

bassfishrman · Jul 11, 2005

My 240 is having cranking difficulties. It will jump off and crank fine with a battery booster. If I try and crank it normally, it will turn over a couple of times and then won't budge. The battery is brand new (3 months old) and I have had it checked. The problem isn't with the battery. Could it be the starter or something else? Any suggestions on what to check and how would be appreciated.

HGM · Jul 11, 2005

I had some trouble with the ground cable on my YM2000. The terminal ends were pretty bad, though they didnt look like it until I removed them. The other end where it connects to the frame would be another good place to look for resistance. Try a voltage drop test with a volt meter on the battery negative and the frame while attempting to crank, it should show 0v. Good luck.

LMTC · Jul 11, 2005

check your cables, BOTH ends of BOTH. It's not your starter if it jump starts. Then check your alternator and VR....if you're not charging that new battery adequately it won't matter how good it was when you bought it. ( I have had it checked. ) As in how? was it checked under load?

normde2001 · Jul 11, 2005

"It will jump off and crank fine with a battery booster."

If that means jumpering from a known good battery hooked up to your cables, I would say your cables are probably good, but your battery needs a charge. How was it tested. You need at least 12.6 volts to start, preferably 12.75v for a full charge, 12 volts won't do it.

kenmac · Jul 11, 2005

Your battery may not have enough cranking amps.

Soundguy · Jul 12, 2005

If it jumps off.. why would you think the starter is bad.

So far.. you say it is a new battery.. and jumps off. that leaves battery cables and ends in my opinion.. unless that new battery is bad.. or just too small.

How did you have it checked? load test? or static voltage?

Soundugy

Normmm · Jul 12, 2005

Where did you connect the jumper cables while jumping it off. If you bypassed the starter relay you could have poor contact here.

bassfishrman · Jul 18, 2005

Thanks to everyone for their advice. My volt meter must have given me a bad reading, because when I checked it again, the battery only showed 11 volts. I charged the battery overnight and now it registers 12.47 volts. The tractor cranked right up. I ran it for 30 minutes or so and shut it off. It wouldn't crank again, leading me to believe it was the cables as several of you have suggested. I removed the battery cables and cleaned them. They appeared clean and tight when I removed them, but apparently they weren't. Now my 240 cranks perfectly. Must have been a bad connection somewhere. My battery has 600 cranking amps...is this enough for my tractor?

thanks again for everyone's advice.

LMTC · Jul 18, 2005

( My battery has 600 cranking amps...is this enough for my tractor?
)
In Alabama, yes it probably is.

normde2001 · Jul 18, 2005

Check your battery voltage at a fast idle, should read 13.5-14.5volts, if charging properly. Keep in mind 12.47 volts is not a fully charged battery. These are not 12 volt batteries, but 12.6. (6 - 2.1 volt cells).